Monaco Offers Lewis His Best Chance Yet

Words and hats may have to be eaten along with the usual canapes and caviar if Lewis Hamilton wins the glamour race of the Formula One season in Monaco this weekend.

MONACO: Words and hats may have to be eaten along with the usual canapes and caviar if Lewis Hamilton wins the glamour race of the Formula One season in Monaco this weekend.

The sceptics who doubted McLaren's 2008 world champion would stand on top of the podium this season after his move to Mercedes face a moment of truth with Hamilton's team arriving in the Mediterranean principality on the back of three pole positions in a row.

Mercedes have faded in races so far, unable to control their car's insatiable appetite for tyres on a Sunday afternoon, but Monaco's tight and treacherous streets are kinder on the compounds.

Hamilton, a winner in what is now his home in 2008, loves the historic circuit that winds up through Casino square and blasts down through the echoing tunnel and out along the harbourside and the ranks of swaying super-yachts.

Champions Red Bull have won the jackpot for the past three years, with Australian Mark Webber triumphant in 2012 after also winning in 2010, but Mercedes' qualifying form threatens their run of success.

"They (Mercedes) will arrive as favourites for Monaco," said Ferrari's Fernando Alonso after he won his home race in Spain this month. "They've been on pole position for the last three races, they were on pole last year with Michael's (Schumacher) lap, so it would be a surprise if they weren't on pole position in Monaco," the Spaniard added.

"And it's more difficult to overtake in Monaco, so maybe they can keep good positions for longer."

Hamilton's team mate Nico Rosberg will be just as much of a threat, with the German - who grew up in Monaco with the circuit part of his daily journey to school - chasing a hat-trick of poles after Bahrain and Spain.

Red Bull's triple champion Sebastian Vettel leads the standings after five races, four points ahead of Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and 17 clear of Alonso in third place.